Push to upgrade Lawson 'back route'

By
Shane Desiatnik

March 26, 2014, midnight

A resident near a sharp bend along the popular “back route” in Lawson’s north claims it is only a matter of time until someone is seriously injured or killed unless a major safety upgrade is carried out.

Push to upgrade Lawson 'back route'

North Lawson resident Robyn Malone and Bullaburra resident Rob Bettington want council to conduct a major safety upgrade at the sharp bend where Lurnea and Hay Streets meet.

A resident near a sharp bend along the popular “back route” in Lawson’s north claims it is only a matter of time until someone is seriously injured or killed unless a major safety upgrade is carried out.

Robyn Malone said her family is used to hearing screeching tyres and sometimes crashes coming from the tight corner where Lurnea and Hay Streets intersect.

“On Sunday afternoons when everyone’s using this back route to head east, if it’s raining there is usually at least one incident at this corner,” she said.

“It’s a blind spot, trucks get stuck there and school bus drivers have to go over the double yellow lines to get through.

“There’s a steep embankment and a creek bed below the corner so there needs to be a safety barrier put in place, a street light and far more signs warning motorists ahead of the corner.

“The council’s solution was to paint the word ‘slow’ on the roadway, but that’s inadequate.

“Council owns the land on the corner’s edge and could utilise it to make the alignment safer.

“The corner just up the road [near Engadine Street] is also very dangerous.”

Bullaburra north resident Rob Bettington said he’s counted five accidents at the spot this year, including a truck “getting stuck and taking out a big chunk of the embankment” on February 27.

“I often see trucks and cars sliding on and off that bend — it’s steep and after a bit of rain oil wells up on it,” he said.

Mr Bettington believes a safety upgrade of the corner is the minimum council needs to do, but would rather see the section of Loftus Road between Engadine and Hay Streets paved and reopened to traffic, at least in a westerly direction.

“That would be the safest route for motorists but the road was closed for no good reason in 2007 — some residents said there was too much dust.

“They (council) have got the funding to pave dirt roads via state government program grants, but they just don’t see it as a priority.”

Last month council resurfaced the open section of Loftus Street (between San Jose Avenue and Engadine Street) and part of Lurnea Street, but a council spokesperson told the Gazette council had “no plans to undertake any further road improvements” at the Lurnea/Hay Street corner.

“Road improvements are prioritised based on the accident crash data [reported to police] and subsequent investigations,” the spokesperson said, adding the last improvements at the location were done in 2009/10.